Bajaj to launch Kawasaki Ninja soon

Pune-based Bajaj Auto will launch sports bike Ninja 250, from technology partner Kawasaki in the next four to five months, while it gears up to introduce motorcycle jointly developed with Austrian firm KTM by next year.

"The Kawasaki Ninja 250 will be launched soon by May or June," Bajaj Auto Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj told reporters in New Delhi while launching the company's executive segment bike XCD 135 DTS-Si, which has been priced at Rs 45,000.

He said the Kawasaki Ninja 250 is expected to be priced above Rs two lakh.

On the company's plans to introduce motorcycles from Austrian bike maker KTM, in which BAL has over 25 per cent stake, he said the first of the jointly developed products will be launched by next year.

"The bigger bikes from KTM, like the Duke and RR will be assembled in our facility. Their introduction has been delayed a bit. But we have been developing two bikes with engine capacity above 125 cc with KTM. The first of the jointly developed bikes will be launched next year," Bajaj said.

The branding will be KTM, he said, adding it will be manufactured at BAL's Chakan facility.

BAL, which has witnessed a drastic drop in sales over the past few months, is now banking on new products to regain its lost market share with plans to launch as many as six new two- wheelers in the next nine months.

"The industry is expected to witness a growth of two per cent this fiscal. Our company's performance will also be at par with the industry but we are positive of good growth in 2009," BAL CEO (Two-Wheeler) S Sridhar said.